Design is one of the best aspects of Animal Crossing. Even before players could terraform their islands, the most iconic aspect of the game was undeniably collecting furniture to decorate one’s hard-earned house. Villagers also had their own specially decorated houses that could change over time, making the game feel more life-like. It was always exciting to visit your favorite villager and see that your gift had been placed in their home, even if it somewhat ruined the decor.
The series has changed over time, too, and so have villagers, especially with the latest title in the series, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Because of the new DIY crafting system, every villager got a revamped/brand-new house to live in, and some of them are nicer than others. Ranked by style, design, organization, and overall vibe, let’s check out the best of the best when it comes to villager homes, now including the adorable and coveted Sanrio villagers.
Updated August 21st, 2021 by Hayley Mullen: Animal Crossing has grown substantially since its release date thanks to the many updates Nintendo has added to the game. Some updates (like the Sanrio additions) included new villagers and new furniture, meaning the list of best villager homes must be re-evaluated for fairness’ sake. We’ve also added villagers whose styles have grown on us or simply didn’t make the first cut, so check to see if your favorite makes an appearance!
15 Butch
This dog is a dark horse among favorite Animal Crossing characters: a Cranky Dog that’s been around since the very start of the series with Animal Forest in Japan. Butch’s home has always had a radical touch to it, having included Modern style furniture games such as a Dartboard in previous games.
New Horizons takes a risky chance redesigning Butch’s home, but it works well; The wild, rough elements of the “on-the-road” lifestyle make him seem as cool as ever. He has two amazing Throwback race-car beds, as well as an open highway and plenty of gasoline to keep him revving on into the sunset.
14 Ribbot
Everyone’s beloved robot frog gets a sweet house design in New Horizons, giving him the electrical equipment and tools needed to keep himself in tip-top shape. Before Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Ribbot had a lunar/space theme throughout his house, consisting of Astronaut Suits and Spaceships.
Now, Ribbot boasts an impressive laboratory/garage working space, similar to the amount of tech his New Leaf house contained. He has several computers to connect to, along with powerful Servers for all his…memories? We may never know.
13 Dobie
Dobie was introduced in New Leaf and had a home reminiscent of a noir detective’s office, which New Horizons carries on fantastically. From the retro Phonograph to the stacks and shelves of books everywhere, Dobie clearly means business. Just looking at his sleek desk and Whiteboard of suspects makes us trust him to solve the case!
He’s clearly not the neatest, embodying the sincere but scatterbrained detective too hot on the case to clean up his office, but it makes his character seem all the more charming because of it.
12 Ankha
Ankha is one of the original villagers from Animal Crossing on the GameCube, so making her home perfect is most likely high-priority for Nintendo. Luckily, they knocked it out of the park with her New Horizons home, keeping it simple but striking. All of her furniture is golden, as nothing less will do for a Snooty villager like Ankha.
She ends up lower on this list due to the lack of Sphinx that were present in her Animal Crossing: New Leaf house, but the room still stands out among the rest as extravagant and exceptional.
11 Julian
No one should be surprised that fan-favorite Julian is on this list, considering his penchant for style. Introduced in Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Julian was coveted by many a player, similar to the Raymond craze but on a much lower scale. His personality is Smug, his fashion leaves you starstruck, and he’s an actual unicorn. What’s not to love?
Clearly, the game designers knew the importance of making Julian’s home look amazing. Not only does he have the complete Zodiac furniture series, but each piece is placed well and doesn’t overcrowd the room. The Starry Garlands are an excellent aesthetic touch, and dead center is the Fortune-telling set, which the mist of the Cloud Flooring swirls around.
10 Plucky
Introduced back in the GameCube era, Plucky is one of the many sisterly villagers players may have received upon starting their game, but she originally had a Peppy personality. When Uchi (or Sisterly) was brought back for New Leaf, so was Plucky.
If Plucky was a starter on your island, you might have missed out on her killer beach-themed house, complete with surfboards, a snack stand, and a blasting Cassette player. Her complete collection of surfboards is quite impressive and is reminiscent of popular sisterly character Nani from Lilo & Stitch.
9 Eunice
A new addition to the list is Eunice, who was a previous top contender for her unique and charming house design emulating a real-life laundromat. There are plenty of machines for visitors to use and a soda machine if they get thirsty. The place has chairs to rest on, making it a liveable home as well as a cute gimmick that suits the sheep quite well.
Eunice is a Normal villager, meaning she likes being kind and helpful to her neighbors whenever possible. If only we could bring our wardrobe favorites over for a wash! It’s still worth a visit to hear K.K. Disco blasting on the laundromat radio while the suds spin round and round.
8 Étoile
Arguably the cutest interior design of all the Sanrio villager homes, Étoile is based off of Kiki and Lala from the Little Twin Stars series, whose colors are primarily pastel blue and pink. This theme can be seen throughout her house, having several of the Sanrio-exclusive items such as the Kiki & Lala Bed and Kiki & Lala Table.
The colors work harmoniously together, contrasted by Étoile’s soft purple wool. The room also has a good balance of furniture, leaving enough room to move around comfortably and not feel too crowded. Players who are able to get Étoile’s amiibo card will be lucky to experience her decor skills in all their glory, as well as obtain the Kiki & Lala items for themselves.
7 Genji
Don’t be fooled by his stoic resting face; Genji is kinder than he looks. This Jock is another original villager from the series’ first game, so he’s had quite a few house designs over the years. They’ve all been modeled to look like a Zen Garden, often with lanterns, folding screens, and, of course, rocks.
Other great features that pull the room together are the Deer scare, customized Paper lantern, and his Bonsai shelf, which is craft-able. When the day is done, Genji can rest his ears on his Tatami bed in the corner and dream of being a star athlete.
6 Stitches
Stitches is a love/hate kind of villager: some players adore him and his buttonless eyes, while others find him creepy and off-putting. No matter what side of the Stitches debate you end up on, it’s hard to deny just how adorable his home is, especially since it fits his theme perfectly.
Several of the exclusive “Mom” items take up residence in Stitches’ house to make it feel more loved and handmade, including his collection of stuffed animals and Mom’s lively kitchen mat at the house’s entrance. Adorning the walls are an Alphabet Study poster and Mom’s embroidery, and playing from the Cute music player? “I Love You.”
5 Blanche
Blanche’s home encompasses several different emotions: comforting, orderly, elegant, and yet not at all boastful. Reminiscent of a Chashitsu (Japanese tea room), Blanche has her Traditional tea set in the center of the room on her Imperial low table.
It is suggested that Blanche’s english name is inspired by Blanche Devereaux of The Golden Girls, which explains her fashion sense and Snooty personality. Her kimono collection is quite impressive and fills the back wall of the house with color and vibrancy.
4 Bea
Perhaps the most charming and heartwarming themed-houses of any villager, Bea the Normal dog is the proud owner and operator of a delicious cafe. Dishes available are Borscht, Green curry, Corn soup, and Cream stew, as well as an Espresso maker and Infused-water dispenser. The Blackboard wall adds extra charm with its artwork of coffee machines and pastries.
This cafe is organized quite well, allowing for ample walking space and a cute kitchen corner where Bea handles finances and washes dishes. Luckily there’s a chair for her to rest her tired paws after a long day.
3 Sylvana
Back during the initial release of New Horizons, cherry blossom DIY items were available to many players for a short time, allowing for quite beautiful decorations to be crafted. Sylvana’s home is utter proof of that, encapsulating the perfect forest picnic during cherry blossom season.
The room has multiple Blossom-viewing lanterns surrounding the blanket and an abundance of delicious food such as the Outdoor picnic set. Thanks to the addition of the Hip Reaction Collection, players can take a seat on the blanket with Sylvana and enjoy the scenery.
2 Daisy
There’s no other way to say it: This home is so cute, just like Daisy herself. It’s complete with all the necessities one might need while studying or working from home while being exquisitely color-coordinated. It’s what college students dream of: a reliable study desk, a tall shelf of books, a brewed pot of tea, and space to unwind after hard work.
Daisy’s previous homes in the series have heavily featured huge library collections and artifacts such as fossils. Besides the lack of her trusty Fire extinguisher, Daisy’s new home is a gorgeous reimagining of who she is: someone who loves education and learning.
1 Henry
This Smug amphibian is truly underrated as a villager, which is a terrible shame. Think of all the people missing out on his fantastic home. Henry dedicates half of his home to the kitchen, and what a kitchen it is. This fully-stocked setup has it all: Espresso machine, Microwave, Gas range, Double-door Refrigerator, and several of the coveted Ironwood furniture items.
Shortly after New Horizons’ launch, many players scrambled to obtain the necessary items and DIY recipes to craft their own Ironwood Kitchenette, while Henry lounged in his perfect kitchen drinking coffee. He should really get his own cooking show.
